2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate and common faults

3,298 MOT tests in 2024. 61.2% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

108Above average
Passed first time61.2%
Failed or needed repairs38.8%
Typical mileage at test120,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,298 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working10.7%
  2. Stop lamp: not working6.8%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.2%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.9%
    119 marked dangerous
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.7%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    106 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    82 marked dangerous
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics34.4%
  2. Brakes13.3%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.2%
  4. Tyres7.4%
  5. Suspension7.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks6.6%
  7. Body & chassis5.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.6%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.9%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 CorollaAll Corolla years2009 Corolla →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Toyota Corolla?

In 2024, 61.2% of 2008 Toyota Corolla cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,298 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Toyota Corolla?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; stop lamp: not working; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Toyota Corolla reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).